ISO retirement locations

Aug 10, 18 19:35

Post #1 of 31 (3505 views)

Not imminent, but I had dinner with a co-worker visiting from San Francisco the other night and we got to talking about "where do you want to live when you retire". Neither of us really knew. So perhaps it's time to start thinking about the 5-8 year plan towards retirement (financial side is on track). I could only find a couple of threads doing a search, but one was NC and one was FL. Looking for some unsung places that I might not have thought about. I have a short list, but I'll keep it to myself for now so not to cloud anyone's ideas.

What I want:

Decent housing stock, ideally $400K and under (townhouse, patio/garden home/maybe condo); not outrageous property taxes.
No freezing cold winters - I HATE cold
Great swimming scene - pools, especially an outdoor pool, good Masters groups
Good cycling scene - gravel and road. Do not care about mt. biking at all. Major plus is a velodrome (but since these are limited, the velodrome is lower on the list)
Good tri scene (clubs, local races)
Decent airport close by
NO SUBURBIA - I want walkable - bookstores, coffee shop, music
Sports team (hockey, football) since you can't train all the time

If money were no object: November - March in New Zealand; March - May in California; July - August in France; September - November in Kona, with side trips to Miami and New York and Kansas/KC to see the fam.

Where I've lived (and like/dislike):

* Kansas - grew up in Emporia, home of Dirty Kanza. Damn! We had nothing like DK when I was growing up. Too small, great place to visit in the summer/fall. Too cold in the winter. Far from airport. Went to college in Manhattan. Same issues as Emporia.

* Phoenix - grad school. Wasn't into triathlon when I was there and haven't really been back in many years. Weather is a plus.

* San Francisco - lived there 19 years before job relo - too cold and now too expensive. This ship has sailed.

* NorCal (not SF) - lived in California a total of 25 years so I consider myself more of a Californian than a Kansan - perfect weather, but now too expensive.

* Nashville - mixed thoughts. Love my house (3,100 sq ft which has doubled in price). Close to the urban core. Hockey. Swimming is great (though no outdoor pool which sucks). Moving here has killed my love of riding my bike though. Gravel is over an hour away. And living in the South just wears on me. I am NOT a Southern gal. HOCKEY and music - major pluses. Dreary cold winter just kills me.

So - what have you got?

clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

Re: ISO retirement locations [ironclm] [ In reply to ]

Aug 10, 18 19:45

Post #2 of 31 (3475 views)

We picked Boulder. Walkability, taxes aren't to bad, close major city/airport, cant beat the riding, hiking and outdoor life. Mild winters, there is outdoor pools, housing is pricey but you should be able to get something in the area for your budget.

Re: ISO retirement locations [damn lucky] [ In reply to ]

Aug 10, 18 20:03

Post #3 of 31 (3448 views)

damn lucky wrote:

We picked Boulder. Walkability, taxes aren't to bad, close major city/airport, cant beat the riding, hiking and outdoor life. Mild winters, there is outdoor pools, housing is pricey but you should be able to get something in the area for your budget.

I thought you were nuts when you stated that Boulder has mild winters. Then I saw that you spent a few winters in Rochester.

Last edited by: Skyline Chili: Aug 10, 18 20:04

Re: ISO retirement locations [ironclm] [ In reply to ]

Aug 10, 18 21:07

Post #4 of 31 (3392 views)

"And living in the South just wears on me. I am NOT a Southern gal."

Well, all i can say is i feel sorry for you. The South is the greatest place to live IMO, b/c people are much friendlier here, and more polite, than in most other areas of the country, but diff strokes and all that. Personally, I live over in Knoxville, just about a 2.75 hr drive from you, and I intend to stay here when I retire. My club has a 6-lane, 25 m outdoor pool that is heated in spring and fall such that we can swim outside 8-9 months/yr. There's a huge dog park where i run with my two Goldens along the TN River for a 3-mi round trip, e.g. about 1.5 mi one way. In short, K'ville has all that i need. :)

"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

Re: ISO retirement locations [damn lucky] [ In reply to ]

Aug 10, 18 21:20

Post #5 of 31 (3376 views)

damn lucky wrote:

We picked Boulder. Walkability, taxes aren't to bad, close major city/airport, cant beat the riding, hiking and outdoor life. Mild winters, there is outdoor pools, housing is pricey but you should be able to get something in the area for your budget.

If the OP states that San Fran is ‘too cold’ !! how the hell is Boulder a good fit?!...lol

Re: ISO retirement locations [ironclm] [ In reply to ]

Aug 11, 18 4:58

Post #6 of 31 (3245 views)

Texas. Nevada. Tenn. Florida.

Re: ISO retirement locations [shady] [ In reply to ]

Aug 11, 18 5:01

Post #7 of 31 (3243 views)

shady wrote:

damn lucky wrote:

We picked Boulder. Walkability, taxes aren't to bad, close major city/airport, cant beat the riding, hiking and outdoor life. Mild winters, there is outdoor pools, housing is pricey but you should be able to get something in the area for your budget.

If the OP states that San Fran is ‘too cold’ !! how the hell is Boulder a good fit?!...lol

Actually, I've been to Boulder in December and yes, it was cold but it was sunny. I need to make a return trip to Colorado. Haven't been there in quite a while. I think the big thing about Nashville winters is that it's cold and dreary - all winter. And we get more ice than snow.

Keep them coming.

clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

Re: ISO retirement locations [ironclm] [ In reply to ]

Aug 11, 18 6:19

Post #8 of 31 (3163 views)

I love Nashville whenever I visit, but it's incredibly busy on the roads. My mom lives in Asheville, NC and it's a pretty cool town. I lived in SF for several years and currently live in MIA. Love visiting SF to see family and most of my family were actually born in SF, but the City has become a sterile universal studios version of itself over the last 10-15 years. There are lots of cool places all over depending on weather preference and if you want coastal or not. Greenville, SC, & coastal towns up and down Florida (too many to list). Keep an open mind, I use turn my nose up about the thought of living in the South. I thought West Coast was the only coast. So many cool town in the Southeast.

Re: ISO retirement locations [ironclm] [ In reply to ]

Aug 11, 18 8:08

Post #9 of 31 (3094 views)

Does it have to be in the States? Lots of places in Europe (Spain, Croatia, Southern France) that would check off the majority of the boxes, although you might have to get into soccer for major sports. The cost of living in Spain is comparable to that in the Southern States.

Next races on the schedule: none at the moment

Re: ISO retirement locations [ironclm] [ In reply to ]

Aug 11, 18 8:15

Post #10 of 31 (3083 views)

Back to Phoenix!

Washed up footy player turned Triathlete.

Re: ISO retirement locations [ironclm] [ In reply to ]

Aug 11, 18 8:46

Post #11 of 31 (3047 views)

ironclm wrote:

Decent housing stock, ideally $400K and under (townhouse, patio/garden home/maybe condo); not outrageous property taxes.
No freezing cold winters - I HATE cold
Great swimming scene - pools, especially an outdoor pool, good Masters groups
Good cycling scene - gravel and road. Do not care about mt. biking at all. Major plus is a velodrome (but since these are limited, the velodrome is lower on the list)
Good tri scene (clubs, local races)
Decent airport close by
NO SUBURBIA - I want walkable - bookstores, coffee shop, music
Sports team (hockey, football) since you can't train all the time

You mentioned weather in Phoenix is a plus. Have you been there in summer!? You are correct that sunny winters make all the difference. Where I live (Ruidoso, NM) the elevation is 7,000ft and Jan avg high is 50 (and usually sunny) and 82 in July. Pine forest. Sometimes windy. Tourist town, but small. Ski resort, casino, horse race track, lots of tourist shops. Affordable. Low crime. No outdoor pools. Good cycling, but few road riders. No "scene" to speak of. More conservative than trendy and progressive. Lots of golf courses. No sports teams. In the boonies, 2.5 hrs from a decent airport (or city).

Look at Albuquerque & Sante Fe, Las Cruces, Tucson, Prescott, CO Springs.

Re: ISO retirement locations [ironclm] [ In reply to ]

Aug 11, 18 15:12

Post #12 of 31 (2906 views)

It's only getting hotter. All those places that used to be nice places are now hot places and getting hotter!

I've been retired for eight years and I'm sticking with Woodstock, NY. I'm actually in the mountains west of town and we have the best cycling I've ever seen. We have a traffic light in Woodstock, one in Hunter and one Margaretteville. That's it, and very low traffic on great roads. We have a new pool and fitness center donated to the town by the great, great, great grandson of Jay Gould the railroad baron. We run along the creek on the road. Our trails are too rugged for most of us to run. There's a trail marathon that starts less than a quarter mile from my house. The men's and woman's winner went 4:33 and 5:33

https://catstailmarathon.wordpress.com/

Winters are mostly snow covered, but it's cold and dry and beautiful; the airtight fireplace keeps the house warm all day and the pellet stove heats it at night. It's a very rare night when I have to use the window air conditioner in summer.

I used to think I wanted to move to some tropical location, but man, it's just to hot there anymore!

---------------------------
''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

Re: ISO retirement locations [Sweeney] [ In reply to ]

Aug 11, 18 17:17

Post #13 of 31 (2847 views)

I’m from upstate NY as well

I don’t think the OP would like woodstock if San Fran was too cold

Really to the OP for what you are looking for I don’t think exists in the US seriously.

Re: ISO retirement locations [RBR] [ In reply to ]

Aug 11, 18 18:54

Post #14 of 31 (2776 views)

RBR wrote:

I’m from upstate NY as well

I don’t think the OP would like woodstock if San Fran was too cold

Really to the OP for what you are looking for I don’t think exists in the US seriously.

^This!

Re: ISO retirement locations [HuffNPuff] [ In reply to ]

Aug 11, 18 18:58

Post #15 of 31 (2766 views)

I think if you took out the part about reasonably priced housing, the coast of CA would check all of the other boxes

Re: ISO retirement locations [ironclm] [ In reply to ]

Aug 11, 18 23:22

Post #16 of 31 (2677 views)

Hey clm, I suggest you look into the areas of Queensland - from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast including Brisbane. The key ito making it work easily is to sock away some Aussie $$$ when their currency dips against the $US. Perhaps a Christmas time holiday there is in order! (although its bloody hot at the time of year). We love Noosa the best, but its kinda pricey there, and a long way from a real city. Love Brisbane too. Certainly not too early to start planning! Cheers from NZ, Scott

Re: ISO retirement locations [HuffNPuff] [ In reply to ]

Aug 12, 18 0:11

Post #17 of 31 (2662 views)

HuffNPuff wrote:

RBR wrote:

I’m from upstate NY as well

I don’t think the OP would like woodstock if San Fran was too cold

Really to the OP for what you are looking for I don’t think exists in the US seriously.

^This!

I'm a Bay area native who has lived in Queensland, Australia for about 10 years - I go back home every year in summer and am always struck by how cold it is there. I think the thing about San Francisco is that there is no real summer- it's not so much that it's cold as that it's never warm.

The Sunshine coast in queensland, or the Gold coast might fit the bill. There is a strong tri culture in the sunshine coast, but there's better hiking in the gold coast hinterland.

I live in central Queensland, which has a strong tri culture as well, and is stunning but it's a long way from a city so if you need city things it's not for you.

If I moved back to the US I think I'd want to live in Utah or Arizona.

Re: ISO retirement locations [alex_korr] [ In reply to ]

Aug 12, 18 7:57

Post #18 of 31 (2523 views)

alex_korr wrote:

Does it have to be in the States? Lots of places in Europe (Spain, Croatia, Southern France) that would check off the majority of the boxes, although you might have to get into soccer for major sports. The cost of living in Spain is comparable to that in the Southern States.

This x100

As an American living in Germany it’s quite easy & cheap to access so we go 2-3x/year. Anywhere along the Costa Brava fits the bill. Affordable, safe, BAR airport isn’t more than an hours drive, Great food/wine, incredible cycling. There’s good reason Lance lived in Girona for many years & Jan spends most of his time there. But also the islands would be wise investigating. Balearic & Canarys.

CC

Re: ISO retirement locations [ironclm] [ In reply to ]

Aug 12, 18 8:37

Post #19 of 31 (2491 views)

France July August is awful

Left provence for Alps this week. Alps in summer can be dire. Provence is unproductively hot

I'd say best. Months in France on coast or south of auvergne are may-june and Sept - Nov and that's based on splitting my time between savoie and provence for 7 years

Re: ISO retirement locations [Andrewmc] [ In reply to ]

Aug 12, 18 8:41

Post #20 of 31 (2488 views)

Mallorca

Re: ISO retirement locations [Spoili007] [ In reply to ]

Aug 12, 18 8:57

Post #21 of 31 (2474 views)

Nashville. Pretty pricy right now but you'd find a solid place for around $400k

USAT Level II- Ironman U Certified Coach

Re: ISO retirement locations [ironclm] [ In reply to ]

Aug 12, 18 9:04

Post #22 of 31 (2456 views)

I have no idea about the tri scene but what about Portland OR or Seattle?

the world's still turning? >>>>>>> the world's still turning

Re: ISO retirement locations [Once-a-miler] [ In reply to ]

Aug 12, 18 9:41

Post #23 of 31 (2421 views)

Derek, she lives in Nashville and swims at NAC with us currently.

Re: ISO retirement locations [ironclm] [ In reply to ]

Aug 12, 18 9:52

Post #24 of 31 (2402 views)

Smaller town just east of the Cascades, either OR or WA. Gets a bit cold, but not terrible and winters are fun, hiking, snowshoeing etc.

Re: ISO retirement locations [JoelO] [ In reply to ]

Aug 12, 18 9:56

Post #25 of 31 (2393 views)

JoelO wrote:

Derek, she lives in Nashville and swims at NAC with us currently.

Well now everyone knows I only read the first half of the post!

USAT Level II- Ironman U Certified Coach

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